RPD Neighborhood Contact Team looking to control crime

RENO, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) -- The Reno Police Department is hoping to get crime under control in one local neighborhood.

Their approach is using a Neighborhood Contact Team. It involves police officers and community leaders going straight to citizens to get answers. On Friday, they surveyed locals in the area of Locust Street and Grand Canyon Boulevard to find out what issues residents see in their neighborhood.

"We generally do those in response to an event or in response to a trend that we've identified within a given community," said Sergeant Mike Browett.

Browett said their Neighborhood Contact Team's mission is to see if a community is experiencing what their statistics say. "In this case, we're in the area of Grand Canyon and Locust, because we identified a trend of a high number of calls for gun shots being fired over the last year," said Browett.

The Department knocked on several doors Friday with the help of Pastor Emilio Pasillas to see if that is actually happening here. "I would say there is a communication barrier between some of the families, so they want to make sure and ensure that some of the families are able to voice their concerns," said Pasillas.

Pasillas said concerns among families are very similar. He said many report they do not feel as secure at night, as they do during the day. "Street racing of kids after 9 p.m., there are some kids on the streets racing, and the other main problem they see is that there is some drug-related issues."

So residents learn how to report crimes. Sergeant Browett said it is a positive way for citizens and officers to interact. "It really gives us a much better sense of not only the job we're doing, but also what we may need to do in order to enhance the quality of life in a given neighborhood."

Browett said they try to get their Neighborhood Contact Team out at least six times a year. He also said they educate citizens on the city's Graffiti Abatement Program.